(Caught on Camera) Farooq Abdullah and a phone call: National Anthem snubbed

Kolkata, May 27: On the ocassion of oath-taking ceremony of Mamata Banerjee as the chief minister of West Bengal on Friday May 27, Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah drew media attention as he chose to speak over the phone while National Anthem was being played at the ceremony.

All minister who were standing next to him were suprised to see him continously talking over the phone. However, It is the constitutional duty of every citizen, under Article 51A(a) of the Constitution, to respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem of the country.

Later, to handle the controversy, Abdullah said to media, " I respect National Anthem."

At this special event of Banerjee who is fondly known as 'Didi' among the people of West Bengal, many ministers marked their presence to wish Mamata for her second term to serve the people of the state.

Earlier on the same row, an Indian Army officers asked two journalist to leave the event as they didn't stand up for the National anthem.